Propulsion device for vessels.



M. HOLLANDER.

PROPULSION DEVICE FOR VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18. 19!].

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

I 1 J 1 I I MARCUS HOLLANDER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PROPULSION DEVICE FOR VESSELS.

LWMAiG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

Application filed i'l'une 18, 1917. Serial No. 175,294.

' ing to provide novel means whereby a vessel can be driven through the water with the expenditure of a minimum amount of power. My improvement consists of a reciprocating body which projects through thestern of a vessel, below the water line, suitable means being employed to impart to the propelling device a reciprocating movement. One of the objects of my invention is to prevent the formation of a vacuum under the stern of the vessel adjacent the propelling device, in other words, to prevent suction at said point which acts to impede the progress of the vessel.

I Will now proceed to describe my invention in detail, the novel features of which I will pointout in the appended claims, refer.- ence being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, wherein- Figure 1 is a sectional view of the stern portion of a vessel having my improved pro pulsion device applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the propulsion device; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view thereof, looking from the left in Fig. 2.

My improved propulsion device comprises a hollow body 1 (preferably cylindrical) which passes through a stuffing-box 2 in the stern-post 3 of the vessel. To propel the vessel the body 1, which I will term the propeller, will be reciprocated by any suitable means, such as a steam cylinder 4, the pistonrod 5 of which is connected to the spider 6 (Fig. 2) at one end of the propeller. Intermediate the ends of the body, or propeller 1, I place a head 7 containing a valve 8 hinged at 9 to said head (see Fig. 2). As can be seen, the opposite end of the body or cylinder 1 is cut diagonally of the axis of the said body 1, forming a pocket 10 containing plates 11 spaced from each other and from the wall 12 of the propeller to form channels 13.

It will be seen by referring to Fig. 1 that the said propeller 1 passes through plates 14 secured to the stern, said plates being spaced to form channels 15. To prevent the propeller from striking any object, such as floating debris, logs, etc., I provide rods 16 havmg cross-bars 17, said bars and rods forming a cage around the propeller. Normally the open ends of the channels 15 extend above the surface of the water, indicated by 20.

As can be seen in Fig. 3, the inner end of the propeller or body 1 is open to the interior of the vessel, and hence said body will always contain air which will escape through the valve-controlled opening 18; under certain conditions, to be hereinafter explained.

The vessel will be propelled ahead by the reciprocating action of the propeller or body 1. i/Vhen the propeller 1 is forced rearwardly, or in the direction of the arrow 19, it will encounter the resistance of the water, and hence the vessel will be propelled ahead by the pressure of the steam (in this instance) in the cylinder 4.

When the propeller is drawn back, to position it for another thrust, the valve. 8 will open, permitting air from within the propeller or body 1 to flow into the channels 13 between the plates 11, thereby breaking the vacuum and reducing the resistance that would ordinarily tend to hold the propeller back. In other words, the provision of the plates 11 and channels 13 tend to prevent the creation of a partial vacuum behind the propeller as it is drawn ahead. When the propeller is again forced rearwardly, the valve 8 will close, because of the water entering channels 13 compressing the air therein and thus acting to close the valve. On the reverse motion of the cylinder, the water is forced out by the compressed air which fills up the space behind the propeller.

As has been stated, one end of the propeller is open to the interior of the vessel, from which it receives air, at atmosphere pressure. As the propeller is drawn ahead, air from within the same will flow outwarclly, due to the vacuum produced at the rear of the propeller, and will tend to decrease the holding back action of said par tial vacuum.

The action of the channels 15 between the plates 14 at the stern of the vessel is the same. As the vessel moves ahead, under ordinary conditions there would be suction or a partial vacuum created ad'acent the surface of the stern of the vessel, ut the air enchannels fills up the space and breaks the vacuum, thus reducing the resistance of the vessel when in motion, the sides of the chalk nels being closed by plates 21, one only being shown in Fig. 1.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination with a vessel, a propulsion device consisting of a hollow bod open at both ends, a head located intermediate the ends of the body and having an opening therethrough, a valve located in said opening, means to reciprocate said hollow body, one end of said body projecting through the vessel into the water, and means located in the open outer end of the hollow body to break'the vacuum at said end when said body is drawn inwardly. a

2. In combination with a vessel, a plurality of vertically disposed plates located at the stern thereof, said plates being spaced apart to provide channels, said plates being of difi'erent lengths, some of said plates being provided with openings, a propeller consisting of a'cylindrical body passing through said openings and through the stern of the vessel, and means to reciprocate said cylindrical body. I, a

3. In combination with a vessel, a propulsion device consisting of a hollow body passing through the stern of the vessel, both ends of the hollow body being open, a head Within the body, intermediate the ends thereof, provided with an opening, a valve to close said opening, a plurality of plates located within the outer open end of the 1101- low body, said plates being spaced apart to provide channels, and meansto reciprocate the hollow body.

4. In combination with a vessel, a propulsion device consisting of a hollow bodypassing through the stern ofthe vessel, both ends of the hollow body being open, a head within the body, intermediate the ends thereof, provided with an opening, a valve toclose said opening, the outer end of said body being cut diagonally of the axis of the body to form a triangular pocket, a plurality of plates Within said pocket, said plates being through the stern of the vessel, said body spaced apart to provide channels, and means to reciprocate said hollow body.

5. In combination with a vessel, a propeller consisting of a hollow body passing being open at both ends, one end of said body being located exteriorly of the vessel,

the opposite end being located within the vessel, a head intermediate the ends of the 'body having an opening therethrough, a

valve to close said opening and arranged to open outwardly when said body is drawn ahead to permit air from within the vessel to pass outwardly into the rearward open end of said body, means to reciprocate said body, and supplemental means located in the open outer end of the hollow body to break the vacuum at saidhend when said peller to introduce air into the water adja-.

cent the outer end of-the propeller.

8. In combination withavessel, a propulsion device, and means independent thereof to break the vacuum produced in the water at the rear of the vessel when in motion.-

9. In combination with a vessel, a 'plu- 'rality ofvertically disposed plates of different lengths, said plates being spaced apart toprovide vertical channels, said channels being open at the top and bottom but. closed at the sides thereof, and a propeller adjacent said plates, all arranged so that air is drawn down between the plates to re-- lieve the vacuum as the propeller is retracted.

10. In combination with a vessel, a plurality of vertically disposed plates of different lengths, arranged to cover the entire surface of the stern of the vessel, said plates being spaced apart to provide vertical channels and said channels being open at the to and bottom but closed at the sides thereo all arranged so that when the vessel is propelled, air is drawn down between the plates to prevent the formation of a vacuum at the lower ends of the plates.

Signed at New York city, N. Y., this 16th day of June, 1917.

. MARCUS HOILANDER. Witnesses:

ALBERT A. Lusrre, Memos Bacon. 

